disclaimers: not mine

notes: angsty feelings

warnings: boy x boy love

Chapter 4

For the twentieth time, Harry slammed a dusty book close. He shoved the leather bound ledger into the shelf again glaring angrily at the row of books. He heard a snort of amusement from the table at his left. He frowned at Severus. "Have YOU found anything?"

"Unfortunately, no, Mr.Potter. However, I DO know of a place where the records of the love potion are. At Riddle Manor." Harry grimaced, stepping back in horror. He collided with the shelves, shaking his head in fervent denail and fear. Severus rose to his feet. "I'm afraid so Potter. Voldemort is the only one who could have taken those books from here, when he was sharing Quirrell's body."

"But...but...how are we going to GET there?!" Harry exclaimed, sinking wearily against the shelf. "What if Voldemort is there? If we walk in on him sitting around eating crumpets with that traitor, I swear I'll come back and haunt you."

Severus laughed for a brief second, startling Harry with the outburst. "I do not think Voldemort would eat crumpets. Most likely, he's torturing some poor mudblood. We can apparate to the outskirts of the manor. It'll be less noticeable."

"....Alright, sir. If you think this is best."

"No, I do not Potter but I want this damn curse destroyed. I'd go to the pits of hell for the cure," Severus spat more nastily than he had wanted to. He didn't notice the pain etched in the jade orbs. His next words were clipped. "I suggest you take my hand."

Harry hesitantly slipped his smaller hand into the potion professor's long and lean one. He wasn't prepared for the amount of sparks to electricate betwixt them. If Severus felt the replica of what Harry was, he was hiding it exceedlingly well. Harry curled his hand around Severus's, holding on for dear life.

~~~

Harry opened his eyes, peeping from around Severus to stare at the row of trees and then beyond, Riddle Manor. It was overgrown with ivy, the masonry was chipping, the paint was peeling. It gave a rustic aura, an archaic but decidely dreary appearance. He tightened his grip. "Are you sure this is safe?" he whispered, brows drawn and face ghastly pale.

"If it wasnt, your scar would be hurting you terribly."

Harry glared. "You are the most wretched consoler on the face of this planet. I'm scared to death."

Severus snarled, "Then stop thinking about it! Foolish boy, how you survived this long is a miracle!" He paused on the cobble stone walk, hearing a few sniffles from the unstable boy behind him. Severus cursed himself at the several tears filling Harry's eyes. "Potter, get a hold of yourself. This is not time to be asking for a pity party."

"Pity?! You don't realise the danger I'm in, you pompous git!" Severus arched a brow. Harry continued his tirade, tears of anger and tears of sadness coursing his cheeks. "If Voldemort finds me, he will kill me and take over the ENTIRE wizard and muggle worlds! You have the gall to stand there and tell me NOT to have a pity party?! Ron was always right, you are a cruel bastard with no feelings." Harry then came to his senses, clamping his palm of over his mouth and eyes widening comically large.

Severus clenched his jaw muscles. "I'm very glad you decided to come clean with how you feel towards me. I loathe you, you abhor me. This entire Potion ordeal should work out perfectly," he commented dryly. Harry gaped. "What is that matter? Cat got your tongue?"

"You're not going to kill me?"

"I'll leave that for your own stupidity. Come along, Potter. We don't have much time to search Voldemort's library and the quicker we get done, the quicker we can get this stupid curse off."

~~~

The inside of the Riddle mansion was much like Harry had expected from just the outside view. It was dusty, the furniture was all ancient from the Victorian Era, cobwebs littered the nooks and crannies. Harry kept his hand on Severus's arm, letting him guide him. "How do you know so much about this place?"

"I was a DeathEater, Potter. Answer that yourself."

"Fine...where do you think Voldemort has been staying?"

"With the Malfoy's."

Harry blinked as they came into the expansive library. It was impressive, rows upon rows of books were spread uniformly. "Malfoy? He must not be too thrilled about that. Okay, do you know where the books might be?"

Severus didn't bother with a retort, he merely pulled the younger wizard towards one of the middle sections. "This is where he categorized the evidence of Love Potions and their affects throughout the ages. He was quite the studious person; still is from what I've been able to discern at Death Eater meetings. Start skimming and stop staring at me."

Harry resisted the urge to spit his tongue out at Severus. He selected a book, eyes darting from cursive manuscripted paragraph to ingredients. "Should we look for the title of the potion?"

"Do you EVEN remember the name?" Harry blushed. "As I thought. Lascivio Amor. I swear Potter, how you manage to pass your classes is amazing."

"Its your class that I have a hard time in!"

"And why is that?"

"Because YOU take about all my points and yell at me and make me feel worthless." Ooops, he said too much. Harry innocently went to his reading, avoiding the know-it-all stare that reminded him of Hermione more than he cared to admit.

"I make you feel worthless, do I?"

Harry disgruntedly threw the book onto one of the round tables. "Of course you do! You always make fun of me. How do you expect me to do well in there if you make me hate you?"

"Try to earn my respect first, and I might just respect you."

"What did I do to make you lose my trust?!" Harry shouted, bristling with fury. "It was my father that did those things to you, not me!"

"Same difference. You act just like him. So high and mighty but...you have your mother's eyes."

Harry was taken aback. "Were you friends with my mother?"

"Lily and I were close," Severus responded icily. "I will not discuss my past with you. It is not your business and dont you dare give me that rant that it involves your mother so therefore you deserve to know. You don't."

"You are the most-" Suddenly Harry cried in pain, hand instinctively clasping his forehead where the scar was glowing golden. The pain was horrendous, like a red hot fire poker searing his flesh. He went to drop to his knees, feeling strong but welcoming arms wrap around his waist to steady him.

"Its him?" Severus asked, voice full of something akin to concern and fear. Harry meekly nodded, leaning into the support. "I have the book. We must make a run for the underground tunnels. Do you think you can make it or must I carry you?"

"I can make it," Harry gritted out weakly. The two ran, escaping what they knew would be death. A laugh rang through the manor. Was it too late?

~~~

HAHAHAHAHA! CLIFFIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D

Thanks for Reviewing. Review again, please!

Cloudburst2000 (I'm glad I was able to keep Sirius in character a little bit. Lol. Its hard to keep him IC. By the way, the P/F thing....*cough, deaths, cough*) xikum (I'm afraid there will be deaths. :-( I'm going to make Finding Hope in Darkness a happy fic so I make this one sad) Ms.Bellum (that penname reminds me WAY too much of Gackt's dog. lol) horsegal-98 (the only slash?! wow! *dies* lol. i'm glad you like it. There will be instances of Sirius nude some more. mmm, you want Lockheart in this story? I think I have a plan for him..) frizzy (I'll try to keep some humour in it but, most of the homour will be gone with the next chapter.) spiv (i'm trying to keep it original. I've only read one other Love Potion fic, it was a Severus/Remus. Love Potion Number 9 I think) Tanny (it isn't really slash yet, but when i do get to the slash, there will be kisses. ^.^ Nothing to scared off about) julz (they will end up together in the end!) Artemis La Faey, Saavik (tee hee, glad you enjoyed that! :-P) NayNymic (*cough, deaths, cough*) Myst4Drgn, Arwen Rayne (Sev and Harry won't take any dark turns towards evil but just the over all plot will. Most will be come a jealous Ron and a pyscho Voldemort) Sela (Sirius is the only comic relief...lol.) Kousei (thank you so much!!!)